Lift body for motor vehicles



July 25, 1933.

H. A. FRICK ET AL LIFT BODY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Dec. 15, 1930 5Sheets-Sheet l July 25, 1933. H. A. FRICK ET AL LIFT BODY FOR MOTORVEHICLES Filed Dec. 15, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1933- H. A. FRICK ET ALLIFT BODY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Dec. 15. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 July25, 1933. H. A. FRICK ET AL LIFT BODY FOR HO'I'UR VEHICLES 5 Sheets-Shet5 Filed Dec. 15, 1930 Patented July 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEHARRY A. FRICK, OF CHICAGO, AND FLOYD 0. HOUSE, OF DO'WNERS GROVE,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO INTERNATIONAL HARVES'I'ER COMPANY, A CORPORATIONOF NEW JERSEY LIFT BODY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Application filed December15, 1930. Serial No. 502,325.

The invention relates to motor vehicles, and especially to lift andtilting bodies or platforms for use with such vehicles.

111 the use of motor trucks in connection with the shipmentof freightpackages and containers between loading platforms at loading andunloading stations, it is a great advantage to have a lift platform orbody on the track, which can be power raised or lowered. to conform withthe varying heights of loading platforms encountered at differentloading and unloading stations, to facilitate ease of transfer of thecontainers from the loading platform to the truck platform, and viceversa.

To accomplish this result, the lift body or platform on the motor truckshould be ca.- pable of beiu raised or lowered in a horizontal plane.Sometimes, when the truck is backed endwise against the loadingplatform, it is desirable that the freight container or the like loadedonto the truck be shifted to the front end of the truck body orplatform, and consequently it is desirable that the truck platform hetilt-able, so as to form an inclined plane. causing the container toslide to the forward end of the truck plat form. This is desirable whenloading the truck. Conversely, when unlmnling the truck. it is desirablethat. the rear end of the truck function as the bottom end of aninclined plane by tilting the front end of the lift bod or platform upardly. causing the container on the platform to he slid rearwardly.

It is desirable that. such up and down tilt ing of the platform can beeffected from any intermediate raised position of the platform. by whichis meant that the platform should be capable of a rising movement in a.hurl-- zontal plane to an intermediate position. to conform with theheight of a loading platform. and, then, from this intermediateposition. the platform should be capable of either a fore or aft tiltinpmovement.

Further, it is highly desirable that the lllilitllllF i-lil for soqweraiing: the truck plaiform he ,\ower actuated and arranged ascompartly as pos ible. so that. especially when the platform is in itslowered position, the

mechanism will not extend downwardly far enough below the truck chassisto become an ol'istructiou which would strike obstacles in the roadtraveled. Automatic throw-out means should also be provided to make thepower driving means inactive when the platform or either end thereofreaches its upper and lower limits of travel.

\Yith this statement of what is desirable, it is the main object of thisinvention to provide for a motor vehicle, such as a truck, an improvedlift platform or body which may be power actuated to cause the same torise vertically in a horizontal plane, or to rise in such manner to anintermediate horizontal plane, whereby the power mechanism may becontrolled to cause tilting of either end of the platform upwardly.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved throw-outmechanism which acts automatically to stop the driven mechanism when theplatform or either end thereof reaches a predetermined maximum up ordown position.

Still another object is to provide an improved gear mechanism drivenfrom the power take-01f of the motor truck, which gear mechanismactuatcs the platform and is decidedly compact, whereby it will not besubjected to damage by road obstacles. The elevating mechanism for theplatform per involves a special form of rack lift member, which folds inthe lowered position of the platform flatly and horizontally alongsidethe frame channels of the truck body.

Still another object is to provide such meclmnism which will becommercially practicable and capable of association with any standardmotor truck chassis as an attachment therefor.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in this art as thedisclosure is more fully made.

In the illustrative example of the invention herein chosen by Way ofexample, the invention is included with a standard. motor truck chassis.said invention comprising a horizontal platform or body mounted on a speial form of lift racks which are power actuated to cause the platform tobe raised or lowered in a horizontal plane, said racks being four innumber, two in front and two in back, so that the front set or the rearset can be actuated independently, whereby to cause tilting of eitherend of the platform from said horizontal plane. Control means is alsoprovided to make the driving connections inactive when the platform hasbeen moved or either end has been moved to a predetermined maximum up ordown position. These lifting and lowering power actuated racks aredeveloped along a special curvature, so tha when the platform is in itslowermost position the same will neatly and compactly fold alongside theframe channels of the truck body, so as not to form any dependingobstruction that might can counter road obstacles and in this mannerdamage to the rack mechanism will he elfectively prevented. So much willsullice for the present in giving a general survey of the lnvention.

Reference should now he made to the accompanying sheets of drawingsillustrating one form which this invention may assumein practice.

In these drawings,

Figure l is a general side. elevational view of a motor truck with theimproved lift platform shown associated therewith and in a positionraised in a horizontal plane;

Figure 2 is a general plan view of the truck with the lift platformappearing in dotted lines to show the operating mechanism there beneath;

Figure is another general plan view on a somewhat enlarged scale, toshow the driv ing mechanism which actuates the racks;

Figure at is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4t-lappearing in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail, side elevational view of apart of the automaticthrow-out mecha nism as seen along the section line i -5 a peering inFigure 8;

Figures 6, T and 8 are, respectively, plan views on an enlarged scale toillustrate different positions assumed by the automatic throw-outmechanism;

Figures it) and ll ale side views corresponding with the showings,respectively in Figures (L T and ti;

Figure 12 is a transverse cross sectional view through the truckchassis. as seen alone the line 12l2- api iearing in Figure 6 toillustrate the throwout mechanism;

Figure 13 is a cross sectional view through a set of the p anetarygearing as seen along the line l3--l2l appear g: in Figure 3;

Figure ll is a cross sintional view. as seen along the line li itapp-airing in Fieiuri- 3;

Figure 15 is a side elevrtionet detail Vl showing the special form ofrack in its elc-- vated position; and,

Figure 1G is a similar view. showing the rack in its folded positionwith the platform lowered.

lleferring to Figures 1 and 2. it will be seen that a standard motortruck has been shown, which truck has the usual side channel framemembers carrying a drivers cal) 21. The motor truck includes astandardtransniiss sion 22 from which protrudes rearwardly a longitudinallydisposed power t2il-ie--oll shaft 23, which, in the usual manner, may becontrolled by a lever 24 within the cah 2L because said shaft 225 can bedriven either clockwise or countcrclockwise. The power t: heoli' shaft23 as best shown in Figures 1 and 2 drives at its rear end a verticallydisposed run of sprocket chain 24' which drives a sprocket wheel 25carried on a shaft :26 suilably jonrnaled in brackets 27 carried bycross sills 28 fastened to the side frame members till of the motortruck. This shaft 2!; is appropriately connected to drive allill'WtLliliV extending propeller shaft 29.

As shown in Figure 3. this propeller shaft drives a shaft 30 (see alsoFigure 14-) arranged along the longitudinal median line of the truckchassis and journaled in a case 31 appropriately carried on a crossplate 32 mounted on the frame members 520. This shaft. 30 carries fastthereon, a spur gear 33. which meshes with slidulile offset gears 3i and3-3. rcspecti velv ca rricd on :l'ial'ts i and i i" also jonrnaled inthe case ill. The shaft 36 is connected to drive a propeller shaft 38exicnding ohliquelv to the r ar. :is shown in Figure 2L and isappropriately connected in turn to drive a short. longitudinal stubshaft 359 carried in a case iii. which case i l is bolted o a housing llappriniriatelv secured hv bolls 4-2 to the rear ends of the framenienihers 20, As shown in Figure l. the shaft 39 arries within the case411a worm gear ill in mesh with a worm wheel ll made fast to a crossshaft jiournaled in the housing ll (see Figures 1') and 4).

The shaft 45 extends ncri ss the housing 4 l us shown in Figure 3. andat each end itcarrics a spur gear 46 constituting the sun gear ofplanetarv gear sets. In each set the gen r if; drives planetarv pinions47, (see Figure lill each of which is integral with pinion i in meshwith an internal ring gear .9. which has a laterallv eXtend ng huh 5thto which is solined a pinion or spur gear oh the gears 51 beingarranged, as shown in l lflllyg 3, lat rallv outside the ends of thehonsinq' ll.

As hest shown in Figures 15 and 16, the gears 51 are in mesh with a gearrack 52 of which there are two at the rear end of the motor truckchassis. The gear face of each of these racks 52 is generated along acurve. which substantially approximates an involute. The back side ofeach rack is guided by a roller 53 carried on frame 20 said rollerfunctioning to guide the rack 52 and hold the same in mesh with thepinion 51. The upper part of each rack carries a pin 5% for pivotallyconnecting said racks to a truck body comprising a horizontal platformcarrying at its front and rear, cross abutments 56 and 57 indicated irFigure '1.

(iroiug back now to Figure 3, it will be seen that the shaft 37 in asimilar manner drives an oblique and forwardly extending propeller shaftIn" that is eonneeted to drive a longitudinal stub shaft 58. to drive inthe same manner a front cross shaft 59 journaled in a housing (it)secured to the forward portion of the chassis or frames 20. This shaftFill drives a pair of planetary gear sets 61 nonstrueted like theplanetary gear sets at the rear of the truck frame already described.These front planetary gear sets (31 in the same fashion drive pinions51', whereby, in the manner already made known, to drive the same kindof involute racks 52, said raeks at their upper ends being pivotallyconneeted at two forward points beneath and to the body or platform 55.

Obviously, now, with the. parts shown as in Figure 3, with the gears and35 in mesh with the drive gear 33, if the, power takesoff shaft 23 is inoperation, then the front and rear planetary gear sets will be driven,causing the pinious 51, 51 to raise the racks 52, 52' alike and at thesame speed, to elevate the platform 55 in a horizontal plane. Theplanetary gear sets serve the purpose of red ucing speed. so that theraising operation will be slowed down the desired amount.

f or lowering the rear end of the platform by power. to tilt theplatform fore or aft, as may be desired. The shifting of the gears 34and 35 is controlled by shifter forks 62 and 6?), respectively, throughrods 64 and 65 eonneeted to a pair of hand controls 66 in the cab 21 ofthe truck.

When the platform 55 is raised or lowered horizontally or either end istilted up or down, it is desirable, for the PUIPOSG of pre- 1 ventingdamage to the racks and gearing which drives the same, to provideautomatic throw-out means, which will diseonnect said racks and gearingfrom the power take-oil, whereby to stop the drive when the platform oreither end thereof reaches maximum up or down positions. Such mechanismis aeeordingly provided and will now he described.

Looking to Figures 3, 4, and 6 to 11. inclusive, it will be seen thatthe frame i'nemhers 20 carry a two-part shaft 67 (see Figure 12),

by means of bearings 68, which carry said two part shaft for rockingmovement. The shaft 67 is split in the middle, one inner end beingformed with a socket 69, and the other inner adjacent end of the shaftbeing formed with. a stud TO loosely and turnably lifted thereiutmsothat thetwo shaft parts can turn or rock indepemlently of each other, ortogether, as will later appear. The inner ends of these shal'l partsearry arms Tl. which are made fast to the shaft parts, while the upperends of these arms are connected by means 72 to the push and pull rods64 and 65, respectively. Each part of the shaft 67 also rarries to\ 'ards its outer end, a loosely mounted arm 73 and. a fast mounted arm 74,the arms 74 arijareni their upper ends each being formed with a throughopening 75, and the adjoining face of the arms 73 being formed with analigned or registering depression iii. The loose arms 7?] are eachspring pulled by a spring 77. Each side frame member L'l carries a.plate 78 formed with a cam silrfare TH and a slot: 80. said member 78carrying a spring pressed detent 81 passed through the hole and having ahead 82 engaging the ram surfaee 79. Further. these loose arms 73 arerespectively connected by links 83 to front and rearll]l'Pfi-(Tllllfll'ttl control blorlis til suitably pivoted by pins soto a braolcet 86 carried y a cross sill 87 supported on the frames 20..\s best shown in Figures 3!. it) and ll. the rods R23 are eachconnected to a lower corner of the blocks 84. The upper, rea r corner ofeach of these blocks is connected by a flexible element, such as thechain 88, at Rl) to the under side of the platform 55, while th upperforward corner of earh of these bloeks s4 is adapted to be (contacted bythe abutment members 56 hereto l'ore described.

In operation, it will be assumed that the motor trunk is r ady for usewith the body or platform 55 in its lowermost position rest insubstantially on the frame sills 20, the racks 52 being in their foldedposition, as shown in Figure ill, with the major portion of the racks,due to their rurvature, lying in substantially a lwriz ntal planeadjacent the frames 20. well above the ground where they (-aunotinterfere wii h the passage of the truck over road ol'islzzeles. Thedrive from the power takesdl' shaft 513 i inactive when the gears illand 35 have b en thrown out by the. two hand lev rs 30. as the gear 33will then iiiei 'ely be idling and not driving the propeller shafl'iugas and 57 which operates the planetary gear sets. e will a sume that thetrack has been backed again t a loading platform and that the loadingplatform is h gher than the lowered position of the platform of thetruck. It, therefore. b comes neeessary in eonvenienily transferring aload from the loading platform to the body plat form of the trunk toelevate said platform 55 horizontally until it approaches a levelcoinciding with the height of the loading platform. Thereupon theoperator in his cab 21 aetuates the lever 24 to make the power takeoffshaft 23 operative. or. if the power tal eoff is running continuously.he aetuates the two levers (36 to throw the gears Il-l and into meshwith the driving pinion 33. As a. result. the propeller shafts 38 to therear and 57 to the front are driven. which causes the rear set and frontset of planetary gear mechanisms to drive the rear pinions 51 and frontpinions 51. As a result. the gear raelrs 52 are moved upwardly. therehyelevating the platform 55. and. as the racks 52 and 52' in this instanceare all moving alike. the platform 55 must be maintained horizontal inparallelism with the frames 20 as it rises. At any instant. the operatorin his cab 21 can. hy means of the levers 66. disengage the gears 34 andto stop the drive and thereby hold the platform in the desired elevatedposition which will coincide with the height of the. loading platform.

If it is required to elevate the platform to its maximum raisedposition. then reference should he made to Figure 9. wherein isillustrated the factthat the ahutments 56. which had been holding onecorner of the three-cornered bloek down. leaves. or rises away from saidblmkS 84. whereupon the springs 77 are operative to pull the looselevers 73 forwardly. The platform continues to rise gradually tauteuingthe chain as. and, when the platform reaches its maximum movement, asshown in Figure l. the three-eornered blocks 84 are tilted upwari'lly attheir rear ends. as shown in Figure in. whereupon the links 83 areoperative to pull the loose levers 73 rearwardly against the pull of thesprings Ti. With the initiation of this movement. as appears in Figures(1 and 9. the loose levers T3 are coupled to the fast levers H by thespring pressed detent 81. so that the levers T3 and T4 hoth moveupwardl) tooether. This rocks the two shaft parts (n as a unit rearwardly. and. as the arms 71 are fast with the shaft parts 67, they too willrock to the rear. Further. as these fast arms 71 are ('onneeted to thepush and pull rods 64 and ('35. respectively. said push and pull rodswill be moved longitudinally to the rear. therehy disengaging. throughthe shippers ('32. Iii-l. the gears Ill and 35 out of mesh with the gear3; therehy stopping the drive and preventing damage to the gearconnections. As the arms 75 and T l go up together during this risingmovement of the platform. the cam surfaces 79 are operative in anohvious manner to withdraw the spring pressed detrnts 81 from thedepression in the loose arms 73. thereby freeing the loose arms 73 fromthe arms 74. Immediately thereupon. the springs 77 are operative toreturn the loose arms 73 a slight distance forwardly to hring said armsto their normal positions. Now. when the operator desires to lower theplatform, he must, hy means of the hand levers 66, shift the gears 34and 355 back into mesh with the gear 33, after first having used thelever 24 to reverse the power take-off drive in any conventional manner.Thereupon the power connections are set to drive the racks 52downwardly. hen the operator. as just described. has shifted the gears34 and 35 back into mesh with the gear 33, he has also rocked the shaft67 forwardly with the fast arms 74. so that the parts assume theposition shown in Figure 8 with the detent s1 disposed in a positionslightly in advance and out of registration with the depression 76, Thisposition of the parts is also illustrated in Figures 5 and 11. \Vhen theplatform approaehes its maximum down position. the ahutments 56 strikethe upper righthand corner of the three-eornered blocks 8%. which rausesthe links 83 to pull the levers ill to the rear against the pull of thesprings Ti'. thereby once more actuating the pushpull rods (34. ('15 topull the gears 34. 35 out of mesh from the gear 33.

For tilting the platform fore and aft, either the rear set of racks :32or the front set of lilt'h'H as can he power operated independently ofthe other, by which is meant that one van he held stationary and theother set (an be driven. Let us assume that the platform 55 is earryinga load and that the trucl: has been l):1(l 4.ll up against an unloadingplatform. and. to facilitate transfer of the load from the truel;platform, it is highly :ulvantageous to tilt the front end of theplatform 55 up, so that the load can slide down the inelined plane thusprodneed onto the loading platform without the imposition of manualel'lort. Accordingly. the operator will actuate one of his levers 66 toshift the gear 34 out of mesh with the gear 33 and. as a result. therear set of planetary gears and the roar raeks 52 will not he driven, asonly the gear 2}?) now remains in mesh with the gear 33. 'lhereu 'mn.power goes through the propeller shaft 57 to the front shaft 59 to drivethe two front planetary gear sets. whim-h actuate the two front involuteat-ks :32. flhereluion. the forward end of the platform 55 is raisei'land, when it reaches its maximum lift position. :1 flexihle element 8?;lufihs the front block 84 in the manner (ieserihed to actuate the frontlink 83. whereupon only one set of the lovers T3 and 74 is operative torook one side of the shaft (37 and the push-pull rod (55 to throw thegear 35 out of mesh with the gear 313 in the manner described.

it will he understood that the automatic throw-out mechanism is actuatedonly by maximum up or down movements of both ends of the platform 55together or when one end of the platform 55 only reaches a maximumposition. However, the platform 55 obviously can be raised uphorizontally to any position intermediately of the maxis mum and minimumand from such intermediate horizontal position, either the forward endof the platform or the rearward end of the platform 55 may be tilted.any amount within the range of movement permitted. If it is desired tothrow out the drive during such tilting movements at any time before themaximum is reached, which would actuate the automatic throw-out, thenobviously the operator still an use one of his two levers 66 to shiftthe appropriate gear 34 or 35 and stop the drive wherever he dosires.

From this detailed description it must now be apparent that a liftplatform for motor vehicles has been provided which, within its range ofmovement, provides remarkable facilities for setting or tilting theplatform in most any position desired. Ob viously the inventirmdescribed also will achieve all of the desirable objects heretoforerecited.

It is the intention to cover herein all such changes and modificationsin the preferred embodiment herein disclosed which do not depart fromthe spirit and scope of this invention as is expressed in the followingclaims.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. The combination with a vehicle having a frame and a power take-off,of a platform normally carried horizontally above the frame, racksconnected to and adjacent the platform ends, said racks disposed infront and rear pairs, planetary gear sets arranged in front and rearsets to drive the racks for elevating the platform relative to theframe, and means connecting said planetary gear sets to be driven fromthe power take-off simultaneously or each set independently of "heother.

2. The combination with a vehicle having a frame aml a power take-off,of a platform normally carried horizontally above the frame racksconnected to and adja ent the platform ends, said racks disposed infront and rear pairs, planetary gear sets arranged in front and rearsets to drive the racks for elevating the platform relative to theframe. means connecting said planetary gear sets to be drivensimultaneously or independently of each other from the power take-off toraise the platform horizontally or to tilt either end thereof, and meansto disconnect the racks and gear sets from the power take-off when anend of the platform reaches a preletermined maximum position in itsmovenent.

3. In a. vehicle, a frame, a platform, a iource of power on the frame. afirst gear ca e on the frame carrying a central gear and two offsetgears in mesh with the central gear, means for driving the central gearfrom said source of power, a front gear casein advance of the firstcase, a rear gear case rearwardly of the first gear case, a. cross shaftin each of said front and rear cases, a reduction gear set at the end ofeach shaft whereby to provide a front pair and a rear pair of gear sets,a rack driven from each gear set, each rack being connected to theplatform whereby to move the platform, driving connections between oneoffset gear and the front cross shaft to drive the front gear sets andfront racks, and driving connections between the other offset gear andthe rear cross shaft to drive the rear gear sets and rear racks.

4. In a vehicle, a frame, a platform, a source of power on the frame, afirst gear case on the frame carrying a central gear and two ofi'sctgears adapted to mesh with the central gear, means for driving thecentral gear from said source of power, a front gear case in advance ofthe first case, a rear gear case rcarwanlly of the first gear case, across shaft in each of said front and rear cases, a danetary gear set atthe end of each shaft whereby to provide a front pair and a rear pair ofplanetary gear sets, a rack driven from each planet set, each rack beingconnected to the platform whereby to move the platform, drivingconnections between one offset gear and the front cross shaft to drivethe front planetary gear sets and front racks, and driving connectionsbetween the other offset gear and the rear cross shaft to drive the rearplanetary gear sets and rear racks.

5. In a vehicle, a frame, a platform, a source of power on the frame, afirst gear case on the frame carrying a central gear and two ofl'setgears adapted to mesh with the central gear, means for driving thecentral gear from said source of power, a front gear case in advance ofthe first case, a rear gear case rearwardly of the first gear case, across shaft in each of said front and rear cases, a planetary gear setat the end of each shaft whereby to provide a front pair and a rear pairof planetary gear sets, a rack driven from each planet set, each rackbeing pivotally connected to the platform whereby to more the platform,driving connections between one offset gear and the front cross shaft todrive the front planetary gear sets and front racks, driving connectionsbetween the other offset gear and the rear cross shaft to drive the rearplanetary gear sets and rear racks, and means for shifting either orboth of said offset gears out of mesh with said central gear.

6. In a vehicle, a frame, a platform, a source of power on the frame, afirst gear case on the frame carrying a central fixed gear and twooffset shi f'table gears adapted to mesh with the central gear, meansfor driving the central gear from said source of power, a front gearcase in advance of the first case, a rear gear ease. rearwardly of thefirst gear case, a cross shaft in each of said front and rear cases, aplanetary gear set at the end of each shaft whereby to provide a frontpair and a rear pair of planetary gear sets, a rack driven from eachplanet set, each rack being connected to the platforn'i whereby to movethe platform, driving connections between one offset gear and the frontcross shaft to drive the front planetary gear sets and front racks,driving connections between the other offset gear and the rear crossshaft to drive the rear planetary gear sets and rear racks, andautomatically acting means for shifting either or both of said olfsetgears out of mesh with the central gear, said means being controlled bythe platform when its ends reach, or either end thereof reaches, apredetermined maximum position.

7. In a vehicle, a frame, a platform, a source of power on the frame, afirst gear case on the frame carrying a central gear and two offsetgears in mesh with the central gear, means for driving the central gearfrom said source of power, a front gear case in advance of the firstcase, a rear gear case roarwardly ol' the first gear case, a cross shaftin each of said front and rear cases, a planetary gear set at the end ofeach shaft whereby to provide a front pair and a rear pair of planetarygear sets, a substantially involnte rack driven from each planet set,each rack being pivotally connected to the platform whereby to move theplatform, driving connections between one oifset gear and the frontcross shaft to drive the front planetary gear sets and front racks,driving connections between the other offset gear and the rear cmssshaft to drive the rear planetary gear sets and rear racks. and means bywhich either set of racks may be operated independently of the other totilt the platform.

HARRY A. FRIC-K. FLOYD 0. HOUSE.

